Bbq grill scraper

ABSTRACT

A barbeque grill scraper and related methods of use that utilize a scraping end formed of a heat-responsive material to remove char and other debris from the grilling surface. The grill scraper includes a conformable scraping edge formed of the heat-responsive material. As the conformable scraping edge is drawn back and forth along the heated grilling surface, a combination of pressure applied by a user as well as the heat of the grill surface results in the formation of individual grooves along the conformable scraping edge, wherein each groove is formed to match an upper profile of the grilling surface. Over time, the grooves fully conform to the upper profile of the grilling surface such that an entire cooking surface can be scraped clean of char and debris.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/286,097filed May 23, 2014, which in turn is a division of application Ser. No.13/092,545 filed Apr. 22, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/327,772 filed Apr. 26, 2010, each ofwhich is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application is related to tools for maintaining a barbequegrill. More specifically, the present application is directed to acleaning tool for cleaning and removing debris from a cooking grate in abarbeque grill wherein during use, the cleaning tool conforms to thephysical layout of the cooking grate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One of the most common forms of entertainment and socializing duringperiods of warm weather is to cook outdoors on a barbeque (BBQ) grill.These grills can take a variety of forms including those fueled bycharcoal, propane or natural gas. Many individuals have their ownpersonal grills located on backyard decks or patios while many publicparks will have permanent grills available to be used by park visitors.

Regardless of grill design or location, one common result is theformation of charred debris on a grate surface of the grill. Thischarred debris is formed from the foods being cooked on the gratesurface including meat, fish, vegetables and the like. The presence ofthis charred debris on the grate surface can create an unsatisfactoryeating experience by having a detrimental impact on the taste andappearance of food being cooked. Generally, users are encouraged toremove the charred debris and a variety of cleaning tools arecommercially available including a wide variety of brush and scrapertools.

Unfortunately, commercially-available cleaning tools suffer from anumber of issues. Brushes often become clogged with debris such that auser is cleaning a dirty grilling grate with a dirty brush. Scrapersgenerally have a hard scraping surface that can clean an upper surfaceof the grill grate but do not conform well with rounded surfaces thatare frequently present on grill grates such that the charred debrisoften remains present on the sides and bottoms of the grill grate. Asthere are a variety of issues with commercially available grill cleaningtools, it would be advantageous to have a new grill cleaning tool thatis well equipped to deal with charred debris of the type found on almostevery barbeque grill grate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a barbeque grill scraper thatincludes a scraping end formed of a heat-responsive material. Generally,the scraping end defines a conformable scraping edge that is drawn backand forth across a hot grilling surface to remove char and other debrisfrom the grilling surface. As the conformable scraping edge slides backand forth along the heated grilling surface, a combination of pressureapplied by a user as well as the heat of the grill surface results inthe formation of individual grooves along the conformable scraping edge,wherein each groove is formed to match an upper profile of the grillingsurface. Over time, the grooves fully conform to the upper profile ofthe grilling surface such that an entire cooking surface can be scrapedclean of char and debris.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a barbeque grillscraper that includes a scraping end formed of a heat-responsivematerial. The heat-responsive material is generally selected due to itsnon-toxic qualities and in some preferred embodiments, comprises asuitable wood species. The wood species can be selected based uponexpected grilling temperatures or alternative, based upon a “seasoning”to be applied to a grilling surface. The grill scraper includes agrasping end and can optionally include additional gripping features ona body surface, such as, for example, a gripping aperture or reducedbody profile so as to allow a user to easily grasp and manipulate thegrill scraper. Generally, the scraping end defines a conformablescraping edge that is drawn back and forth across a hot grilling surfaceto remove char and other debris from the grilling surface. As theconformable scraping edge slides back and forth along the heatedgrilling surface, a combination of pressure applied by a user as well asthe heat of the grill surface results in the formation of individualgrooves in the heat-responsive material along the conformable scrapingedge, wherein each groove is formed to match an upper profile of thegrilling surface. Over time, the grooves fully conform to the upperprofile of the grilling surface such that an entire cooking surface canbe scraped clean of char and debris. In some embodiments, the scrapingend can be replaceably attached to a scraper body such that the scrapingend can be disposed of and replaced at the end of its useful life or toallow a user to mix and match scraping ends based upon grillingtemperatures or desired seasoning to be applied to the grilling surface.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to scraping abarbeque grill with a grill scraper that includes a scraping end formedof a heat-responsive material. Generally, a grill scraper is providedthat includes a conformable scraping edge made of the heat-responsivematerial. Next, a user grasps the grill scraper and slides it back andforth across a hot grilling surface with the conformable scraping edgein direct contact with the hot grilling surface. The method furtherincludes forming individual grooves in the conformable scraping edgethat match an upper profile or cooking surface of the grilling surface.Finally, the method comprises fully conforming the grooves to the upperprofile of the grilling surface such that the entire cooking surface canbe scraped clean of char and debris. In some embodiments, the method canfurther comprise removing the scraping end from a manipulation end andreplacing the scraping end with a second scraping end based upon theoriginal scraping end reaching the end of its useful life or based oncooking conditions such as, for example, temperature or the desire toseason the cooking surface.

The above summary of the invention is not intended to describe eachillustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present invention.The figures and the detailed description that follow more particularlyexemplify these embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is more completely understood in consideration ofthe following detailed description of various embodiments in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view of a grill scraper positioned forscraping a grilling surface according to a representative embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the grill scraper of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the grill scraper of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front, perspective view of a grill scraper positioned forscraping a grilling surface according to a representative embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the grill scraper of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the grill scraper of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a front, perspective view of a grill scraper positioned forscraping a grilling surface according to a representative embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a grill scraper including a replaceable scrapingend according to a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the grill scraper of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of the grill scraper of FIG. 8 taken atDetail 10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a scraping end and a heated grilling surfaceillustrating an initial use of a grill scraper according to arepresentative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a scraping end positioned against a heatedgrilling surface illustrating an onset of customization to a conformablescraping edge during use of a grill scraper according to arepresentative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a scraping end positioned against a heatedgrilling surface illustrating the progression of a conformable scrapingedge during subsequent use of the grill scraper according to arepresentative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a scraping end positioned against a heatedgrilling surface illustrating the full transition of a conformablescraping edge to match an upper profile of the heated grilling surfaceaccording to a representative embodiment of the present invention.

While the present invention is amenable to various modifications andalternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of examplein the drawings and will be described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that the intention is not to limit the presentinvention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as definedby the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a representative embodiment of agrill scraper 100 can comprise a scraper body 102 having a scraping end104 and a manipulation end 106. Scraper body 102 includes an uppersurface 108 and a lower surface 110. In some embodiments, upper surface108 and lower surface 110 can be identical in appearance while in yetother embodiments, upper surface 108 and lower surface 110 can includediffering performance features. As illustrated in FIG. 2, upper surface108 and lower surface 110 can each include a beveled scraping surface112, a main body surface 114 and a grip region 116. Grip region 116 caninclude a variety of features promoting holding and application ofscraping force at the manipulation end 106 such as, for example, anindented surface 118 and a rounded grip end 120. Beveled scrapingsurface 112 terminates in a conformable scraping edge 122 at scrapingend 104. A retention aperture 124 can extend between the upper surface108 and lower surface 100 proximate the manipulation end 106. Retentionaperture 122 can accommodate a storage accessory 126 such as a hook or alanyard 128 as seen in FIG. 1 such that grill scraper 100 can be hung onor in proximity to a barbeque grill.

Grill scraper 100 is generally formed of a heat-responsive material 130that allows for conformable scraping edge 122 to continually adapt to agrill surface being scraped in response to the heat of the grillsurface. Generally, heat-responsive material 130 can comprise suitablenon-toxic materials that are conformable in response to heat but that donot deposit or leave debris or ash on a grill surface being cleaned. Ina preferred embodiment, heat-responsive material 130 comprises asuitable wood species variety such as, for example, oak, hickory, cedar,alder and the like. Depending upon the type of food being prepared,certain advantages may exist for using a specific variety of woodspecies as the heat-responsive material 130. For example, hardwoods maybe preferred when preparing foods at high heat while softwood varietiesmay be better suited for use with foods prepared with low heat. Inaddition, the variety of wood species utilized as heat-responsivematerial 130 may be selected due to a “seasoning” flavor applied to thegrill surface by the chosen wood species as grill scraper 100 isutilized to scrape the grill surface.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, an alternative embodiment of a grillscraper 200 can substantially resemble grill scraper 100 with thefurther inclusion of a grip aperture 202 extending between the uppersurface 108 and the lower surface 110. Grip aperture 202 can be locatedat a suitable position on main body surface 114. Grip aperture 202provides a user with an additional grip point whereby additional forcecan be applied during the scraping process. In some embodiments, thepresence of grip aperture 202 can allow grill scraper 200 to stored byhanging the grill scraper 200 by the grip aperture 200, thereby allowingfor the removal of retention aperture 122 and storage accessory 126.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment of a grill scraper300 can substantially resemble grill scraper 100 with the addition ofmodifications to the main body surface 114. Grill scraper 300 cancomprise a rear tapered surface 302, a forward tapered surface 304 and acentral grasping surface 306. Central grasping surface 306 has a reducedexterior perimeter 308 so as to make it easier for a user to wrap theirhand about and grasp the grill scraper 300. In this way, a user isprovided with an additional grip point whereby additional force can beapplied during the scraping process.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, another alternative embodiment of agrill scraper 400 can substantially resemble grill scraper 200 with theinclusion of a permanent body portion 402 and a replaceable scraperportion 404. Permanent body portion 402 generally comprises manipulationend 106 and a receiving end 406. Receiving end 406 generally comprises alongitudinal slot 408 extending between a first side 410 and a secondside 412. Receiving end 406 can further comprise an upper slot surface414 and a lower slot surface 416 wherein a pair of fastener apertures418 are aligned so as to be continuous between the upper surface 108 andlower surface 110. Replaceable scraper portion 404 includes an insertionend 420 and scraping surface 112. Insertion end 420 includes aprojecting surface 422 configured so as to insert snugly into thelongitudinal slot 406. Projecting surface 422 can include a pair ofprojection apertures 424 that are sized and aligned so as to correspondwith fastener apertures 418. With the projecting surface 422 fullyinserted into longitudinal slot 406 such that corresponding fastenerapertures 418 are aligned with corresponding projection apertures 424, apair of fasteners 426 such as, for example, nuts and screws can beutilized to retainably couple the permanent body portion 402 with thereplaceable scraper portion 404.

Grill scraper 400 can provide a number of benefits including thoserelated to material selection. For instance, permanent body portion 402can be constructed of easily cleaned or dishwasher safe materials suchas stainless steel or plastic. In addition, additional materials can beutilized such as, for example, rubberized sections on permanent bodyportion 402 to enhance a users overall grip of the grill scraper 400. Inaddition, replaceable scraper portion 404 can be replaced as thescraping surface 112 deteriorates or can be swapped out for a secondreplaceable scraper portion 404 better suited for the food being cookedbased upon cooking temperatures or seasoning desired.

Operation and use of grill scrapers of the present invention areillustrated in FIGS. 1, 4, 7 and 11-14. While operation is generallydescribed with respect to grill scraper 100, it is to be understood thatthe method would apply to each of the previously described embodiments.Generally, grill scraper 100 is intended for use with a heated barbequegrill, either prior to cooking or following cooking. A user grasps grillscraper 100 at the manipulation end 106 and positions the scraping end104 against a grilling surface 500, typically a wire grate 502. The usercan apply additional pressure to the scraping end by pressing down withtheir second hand on the main body surface 114 or alternatively graspingthe grip aperture 202 or the central grasping surface 306. Whilemaintaining pressure on the scraper body 102, the user slides the grillscraper 100 forward and back along the grilling surface 500 such thatconformable scraping edge 122 remains in continuous contact with thegrilling surface 500.

Grilling surface 500 is generally constructed of metallic or ceramicmaterials and during cooking, can be heated to temperatures of more than500° F. As illustrated in FIG. 11, conformable scraping edge 122 isinitially provided with a straight scraping edge 150. As the conformablescraping edge 122 is slid along the heated grilling surface 500, thestraight scraping edge 150 begins to change in response to the effectsof the heated grilling surface 500 on the heat-responsive material 130as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. In the case of heat-responsive material 130comprising a suitable wood species, the heat-responsive material 130essentially begins to combust such that the straight scraping edge 150assumes a transitional scraping edge 152 in which grooves 154 begin tobecome burned into the conformable scraping edge 122 based upon theprofile and spacing of the grilling surface 500. After one or more uses,grooves 154 are fully burned into the conformable scraping edge 122 suchthat a fully conformed scraping edge 156 includes a plurality of grooves154 that substantially resemble the top profile of the grilling surface500 as shown in FIG. 14. In the case of grilling surface 500 comprisinga wire grate, the fully conformed scraping edge 156 includes grooves 154such that the fully conformed scraping edge 156 is in direct contactwith an upper 180° of each wire which is essentially the cooking surfaceupon which food comes into contact. Once fully conformed scraping edge156 has been formed, sliding the grill scraper 100 forward and backalong the grilling surface 500 allows for scraping along the entirecooking surface to remove char and other debris. Furthermore, thesensitivity of the heat-responsive material 130 to the heated grillsurface 500 ensures that any surface coatings on the grilling surfaceare not scraped off or otherwise damaged when using the grill scraper100.

The foregoing descriptions present numerous specific details thatprovide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of theinvention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that variousembodiments, having been disclosed herein, may be practiced without someor all of these specific details. In other instances, known componentshave not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring the present invention. It is to be understood that even thoughnumerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments are setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of various embodiments, this disclosure isillustrative only. Other embodiments can be constructed thatnevertheless employ the principles and spirit of the present invention.Accordingly, this application is intended to cover any adaptations orvariations of the invention. It is manifestly intended that thisinvention be limited only by the following claims and equivalentsthereof.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. A method for making a barbeque grill cleaningscraper, the method comprising: selecting a heat-responsive material;and forming a grill scraper from the heat-responsive material, the grillscraper having a scraper body and a scraping end, the scraping endincluding a conformable scraping edge extending along an entire scrapingend, and the scraper body defining a central grasping surface having areduced width as compared to the scraping end; wherein the conformablescraping edge is adapted to transition from a straight scraping edge toa conformed scraping edge in response to being scraped across the heatedgrill surface.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the conformedscraping edge includes a plurality of grooves matching an upper profileof the heated grill surface.
 15. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: scraping the heated grill surface with the conformablescraping edge to form the plurality of grooves defining the conformablescraping edge.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the heated grillsurface comprises a wire grate and wherein the plurality of groovesallow the heat-responsive material to be in direct contact with acooking surface in which food is in contact.
 17. The method of claim 16,wherein the cooking surface comprises an upper 180 degrees of each wiresurface that forms the wire grate.
 18. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: replacing the scraper end with a second scraper end.
 19. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the step of selecting a heat-responsivematerial comprises: selecting the heat-responsive material from aspecies of wood.
 20. The method of claim 13, further comprising: formingthe scraper body so as to promote an application of force to the scraperend when in contact with the heated grill surface.
 21. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the conformable scraping edge defines a beveledscraping surface.